The Samsung Autonomous Navigation Assistance System (SAS), developed by Samsung Heavy Industries in Korea, has been granted an Approval in Principle (AiP) by ClassNK.
The approval was issued following an examination of the technology’s functionality for situational awareness through sensor fusion and integration of electronic navigational chart information, collision and grounding risk assessments, and grounding avoidance.
ClassNK has been involved in various demonstration projects related to the development and implementation of automated/autonomous operation technologies. Based on these experiences, the class society has created a set of ‘Guidelines for Automated/Autonomous Operation of ships’ summarising the requirements for each stage of conceptual design, development, installation, and maintenance for automated/autonomous operation technologies.
As part of the SAS concept design, ClassNK conducted a safety review based on the requirements within that publication. Having confirmed its compliance, including clarification of tasks to be automated and the availability of backup systems, the AiP was granted.
